Former The Simpsons composer Alf Clausen is now suing the show after he was sacked from the series back in 2017.
The composer, who worked on the Fox comedy for 27 years, is taking legal action against the show's creators, claiming that he was fired over "perceived disability and age" rather than because the show was looking for "a different kind of music", which is what he says he was told at the time.
"This reason was pretextual and false," the claim reads (via BBC News). "Instead, plaintiff's unlawful termination was due to perceived disability and age."
The suit, which names Fox, Disney, and James L Brooks' Gracie Films as defendants, continues to say that Clausen's replacement on the show "was substantially younger in age, who was not only paid less, but was not disabled".
Clausen confirmed that he had been let go from the show back in 2017, and The Simpsons' producers later released a statement saying that Clausen would continue to have "an ongoing role" on the animated comedy.
"We tremendously value Alf Clausen's contributions to the Simpsons and he will continue to have an ongoing role in the show," the show's producers said in a statement at the time.
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"We remain committed to the finest in music for the Simpsons, absolutely including orchestral. This is the part where we would make a joke but neither Alf's work nor the music of the Simpsons is treated as anything but seriously by us."
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During his time on The Simpsons, the composer provided the soundtrack to many of the show's iconic episodes.
His work on the show earned him a total of 21 Emmy nominations – with two wins in 1997 and 1998 – and he is believed to be the most-nominated composer in the awards' history.
Clausen has also received five Annie awards for his work on the show.
The Simpsons airs on FOX in the US and on Sky One in the UK.
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